OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Rory McIlroy didn’t mind being in the rough at rain-soaked Olympia Fields, except for having trees and a bunker between him and the 17th green. And even that didn’t matter Thursday in the BMW Championship.
McIlroy found the short grass only six times with 18 tee shots — three of them on par 3s — and no one would have guessed that looking at his scorecard. He played bogey-free for a 5-under-par 65, giving him a share of the lead with British Open champion Brian Harman after the first day of the second event in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs.
“Only hitting three fairways today and coming up with 65 is a bit of a bonus,” McIlroy said.
The greens were so soft from a two-hour rain delay in the morning, McIlroy realized trying to get at pins was easier coming from the rough because the ball wouldn’t have as much spin.
“I’m not saying I was trying to aim for the rough,” he said with a smile.